2012 Bmw K 1600 GTL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
4,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 33 complaints (21.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 15.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Suspension | 2 |
Electrical System: 7; Steering: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Engine: 4; Exterior Lighting: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Power Train: 3; Suspension: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2011: 7; 2013: 12; 2014: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 5; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10413494 · 2011-07-19 (July 19, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW K1600 GTL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, HE ENGAGED THE HORN AND ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES, BUT THE DRIVER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO HEAR THE HORN, ALMOST RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN OUTPUT WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD BY OTHER DRIVERS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HORN WAS OPERATING ADEQUATELY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH A T…
Owner-reported narrative. 520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415521 · 2011-07-28 (July 28, 2011)
I HAVE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2012 TRIUMPH TIGER 800 ABS. IT RELATES TO ENGINE STALLING. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON INTERNET FORUMS, AND SO I HAVE DECIDED TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. I HAVE HAD MY TIGER 800 FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, AND HAVE PUT ON ABOUT 1500 MILES. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH STALLING. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I HAD BEEN RIDING ON RELATIVELY HOT DAYS (85 DEGREES F) FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I HAD NO ISSUES WITH OVERHEATING. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY BIKE BEGAN TO STALL EVERY TIME I ROLLED OFF…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429376 · 2011-10-10 (October 10, 2011)
THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A PRONOUNCED PULL TO THE LEFT. SO MUCH SO THAT THE BIKE WILL WANDER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IF THERE IS ANY INATTENTION. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429391 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
THE BIKE HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED IT. BMW DEALER TESTED IT AND VERIFIED THE PULL TO THE LEFT. LAST WEEK A STEERING PART WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED. AFTER RIDING IT I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT FIXED. STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT - PERHAPS NOT QUITE AS MUCH AS BEFORE THE "REPAIR". *KB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10429391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429394 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
MY BRAND NEW BMW MOTORCYCLE PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS CAUSES EXTREME FATIGUE TO MY ARMS AND BACK. THE LEFT PULL WILL TAKE THE BIKE ACROSS THE CENTER LANE RAPIDLY UNLESS CONSTANT PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE RIGHT BAR TO KEEP THE BIKE GOING STRAIGHT. NUMEROUS OWNERS ARE REPORTING THAT THEIR BRAND NEW BIKES ARE DOING THE SAME THING. SO FAR, BMW HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AS THE BIKE GOES LEFT VERY QUICKLY UNLESS CONSTANT PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE HANDLEBARS TO FORCE IT GO…
Owner-reported narrative. 14 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10438769 · 2011-12-06 (December 6, 2011)
ON TURNING ON THE IGNITION KEY IN MY GARAGE, THE FUEL PUMP WAS AUDIBLE, AND THE BIKE FAILED TO START WHEN THE STARTER BUTTON WAS PRESSED. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED A VERY LARGE TORRENT OF GASOLINE POURING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, RIGHT OVER THE EXHAUST HEADERS, WHICH WERE FORTUNATELY NOT YET HOT. THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE LOST WAS AROUND 1 LITER, BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY. FORTUNATELY, NO FIRE RESULTED AS I ROLLED THE BIKE OUT OF THE POOL OF GASOLINE AND ON OUT OF THE GARAGE. AFTER THE BIKE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440023 · 2011-12-15 (December 15, 2011)
HAD A BAD OIL LEAK FROM THE TRANSMISSION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BIKE. NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BY BMW DEALER. BAD OIL AND COOLANT FLUID LEAK FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. NEW PUMP WAS INSTALLED. THE BIKE WAS OUT OF SERVICE AT THE DEALER FOR 2.5 MONTHS TO FIX IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10512968 · 2013-05-21 (May 21, 2013)
LEFT AND RIGHT HANDLEBAR CONTROLLER QUITS FUNCTIONING. THE LEFT CONTROLLER HOUSES THE HORN, TURN SIGNALS, CRUISE CONTROL, BRIGHT LIGHTS, FOG LAMPS, TRACTION CONTROL, HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS, AND THE DAMPING ON THE MOTORCYCLE AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT SO HAZARDOUS SUCH AS RADIO VOLUME AND WIND SHIELD HEIGHT. RIGHT HANDLEBAR CONTROLLER HOUSES THE ENGINE CUTOFF SWITCH, RIDING MODE (RAIN, DRY, DYNAMIC) WHICH CONTROLS THE RESPONSIVE OF THE BIKE, AND LESS CRITICAL ITEMS SUCH AS THE POWER LOCKS FOR LUGGAGE COMPARTMENTS. THESE HAVE B…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512968 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V526000 · Engine | Electrical System:Software | Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2013-10-25 (October 25, 2013)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012 K1600 GT and K1600 GTL motorcycles. In certain riding conditions, an incorrect throttle valve control signal may be received by the engine control unit, limiting the engine speed.
Consequence: As a result of the reduced engine speed, the engine could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the throttle control software, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin in December 2013. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V617000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2013-12-12 (December 12, 2013)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 model year R-model motorcycles, model year 2005-2012 K-model motorcycles, model year 2010-2011 S 1000 model motorcycles, and model year 2006-2010 HP2 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel pump flange (and the auxiliary fuel pump flange if equipped) could develop cracks and leak fuel.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will either reinforce the fuel pump flange or replace the pump, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V471000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2020-08-10 (August 10, 2020)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2011 K1300 (S, GT), 2010-2011 S1000 RR, 2005-2011 R1200 (GS, GS Adventure, R, RT, S, ST), 2006-2010 HP2 (Enduro, Megamoto, Sport), 2005-2008 K1200 (R, R Sport, S, GT), and 2012 K1600 (GT, GTL) motorcycles that were repaired under recall 13V-617 with the support ring remedy and where the fuel pump was not replaced at a later date. This recall involves the fuel pump, and also the auxiliary fuel pump as applicable. The affected motorcycles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, possibly resulting in a fuel leak while the engine is running.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump(s) with an improved version, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V060000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2021-02-08 (February 8, 2021)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2014 S 1000 RR/R/ HP4, R 1200 GS/GS Adventure/R/RT, K 1300 S, K 1600 GT/GTL/GTL Exclusive and 2014 R nine T motorcycles. The fuel pump, and auxiliary fuel pump in certain models, may crack and leak fuel during vehicle operation.
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗